Foot exerciser



D ec. 31A, 1935. E, R, MAYLAND Y 2,025,878

FOOT EXERCISER original Filed sept- 7, 1932 2 sheetsheet 1 ERMaya/n E. R. MAYLAND Dec. 3l, 1935.i

FOOT .EXERGISER Original Filed Sept. 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ylanll Patented Dee. 31, 1935 2,025,878

UNHTED STATES PATENT FOOT EXERCISER Emil R. Mayland, Hutchinson, Kans.

Original application September 7, 1932, Serial No. 588,509, now Patent No. 1,972,308. Divided and this application May 17, 1934, Serial No. 726,147

1 Claim. (Cl. 272-57) This invention relates to improvements in extherefore, be referred to only in a general way ercising devices and pertains particularly to deto illustrate its use in association with the metavices designed for exercising the feet. tarsal arch exercisers which form the subject- The primary object of the present invention is matter of the present case.

5 to provide a device whereby the metatarsal arch 'Ihe unit 2 is designed for exercising the lon- 5 of the foot may be exercised for the purpose of gitudinal arches and broadly comprises a standre-'adjusting the same and strengthening the ard 3 having a head portion 4 across which an muscles of the foot in this region when the same elastic band 5 extends. The ends of this band become weakened. are secured at opposite sides of the standard 3 Another object of this invention is to provide by the blocks 6, the band 5 being maintained '1.0 a device for exercising the metatarsal arches in a in stretched condition across the standard, and regulated manner whereby the application of the opposing faces of the blocks 6 which are pressure to such arches for the purpose of reshaped to receive the outer sides of the feet are storing or replacing the same in their normal shielded or covered by a cushion 'I preferably positions, may be gradually increased and reguformed of sponge rubber. Upon either side of 15 lated as required. the central unit 2 are the units 8 which consti- The present application constitutes a division tute the portions of the device devised for exerof prior application, Serial No. 688,509, filed Sepcising the metatarsal arches of the feet. Each tember 7, 1932, issued as Patent No. 1,972,308 of these devices 8 comprises an arch band 9 hav- September 4, 1934. f ing the downwardly and inwardly converging 20 The invention will be best understood from a supporting legs I0 which are secured to the base consideration of the following detailed descrip- I in the manner illustrated.- tion taken in connection with the accompany- The inner face of each of the arches 9 and a ing drawings forming part of this specification, portion of each of the supporting legs II) therefor with the understanding, however, that the invenis covered with a cushion I I of suitable character, 25 tion is not confined to any strict conformity with preferably sponge rubber. One edge of the arch the showing of the drawings but may be changed 9 has a portion turned upwardly or rounded, or modified so long as such changes or modicaas indicated at I2, and the cushion II also extions mark no material departure from the satends over this portion of the arch.

lient features of the invention as expressed in the Disposed forwardly of each of the arches 9 is 30 appended claims. a vertically arranged tubular standard I3. The In the draWings:- lower end of the standard I3 is xed in the base I Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my complete and extending downwardly into the upper end device showing the metatarsal arch exercisers in of this standard adjacent each arch, is a stem association with the exercising means for the I4 which carries upon its upper end a relatively 35 longitudinal arches. large head I5 which has a rounded top surface Figure 2 is a View in top plan of the complete as illustrated. exerciser. Beneath the head I5 is disposed a coil spring Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line I6 which surrounds the stem and tubular stand-V 3-3 of Figure 2. ard and normally urges the head and stem up- 40 Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line Wardly. This spring I5 ls relatively strong so 4 4 of Figure 3. that considerable pressure must be applied to Referring to the drawings wherein like nuforce the head I5 down into contact with the merals of reference designate corresponding upper end of the underlying stem I 3. Y parts throughout the several views, the device is In the use of the present exeroiser, the foot 45 illustrated as being of a portable character in is placed with the toes beneath one of the arches that it is mounted upon a shiftable or movable 9 so that the tops of the toes and the topof a base I, although it is to be understood that the portion of the foot will contact withthe cushion invention is not limited to this feature as it will II. The spring supported head I5 adjacent the be obvious that the elements making up the exerarch then contacts with the metatarsal area 50 ciser may be mounted directly upon the door. of the sole of the foot and the required upward Y At the central portion of the device, upon the pressure against this arch for the purpose of vrebase I, there is mounted the unit indicated as a Storing it tonormal condition is obtained by whole by the numeral 2. This unit constitutes forcing'the foot downwardly, using the point of subject-matter for my prior application and will, contact of the toes with the arch cushion II as 55 v said legs being secured to the base and said yoke at one side having an upwardly curved edge portion, a padding disposed against the under surface of said yoke and at the inner sides of said legs, said yoke being formed to it the transverse top curvature of a foot, a tubular guide secured in said base at the side of the yoke having the upturned edge, a presser element having a rounded top surface and a supporting pin slidably disposed in said guide, the presser element being adapted to engage the under side of a foot having the toes engaged underV said yoke, and a coil spring surrounding said pin and guide between the base and said head and normally urging the foot engaging head upwardly.

EMIL R. MAYLAND. 

